Romans 2

Yesterday we talked about general revelation—that God can be known through what he has made. In Romans 2, Paul goes on to show that through their own intuition all men have knowledge of morality, which is rooted in God. "[The Gentiles] show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" (vs 15).

This verse has compounding implications. All men are created in God's image, and grounded in God's image is his divine nature, and flowing from his nature is an awareness of right and wrong that is written on the hearts of men. Therefore Paul says in both 1:20 and 2:1 that we are simply without excuse. You might ask, "What about people who never hear the gospel?" On the day of wrath all men will be held accountable for their works based on at least these two things: that God has revealed himself to us through his creation (Rom. 1), and he has revealed himself through what he has written on our hearts. (Rom. 2).

Reflect on verses 7-8: "To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." Brothers and sisters I praise God if you are one to whom he has given eternal life. If you are not saved though, I pray that you will approach tomorrow's reading with fresh eyes to read and meditate on one of the clearest gospel passages in the whole Bible.